Police Officer Candidate Admits To Theft

April 25, 1985|By M. Anthony Lednovich, Staff writer

FORT LAUDERDALE — A Lauderhill woman applying to become a police officer told an interviewer she had skimmed $59,000 from the proceeds of daily auctions conducted by the Salvation Army, police reported today.

Margaret Kennedy Gray, 22, of the 700 block of Northwest 53rd Street, admitted the thefts during a pre-employment polygraph test at the police department, according to Fort Lauderdale police. She was charged Tuesday with grand theft.

Gray told Detective Stephen Ruebottom, an investigator in the Economics Crime Unit, that she had skimmed $500 a week from the Salvation Army auctions at 1901 W. Broward Blvd. where she worked as an auctioneer.

Gray told police she took enough money to buy a late model car for $15,000 and also made a $30,000 down payment on a house.

Ruebottom said Gray was able to take the money undetected because the Salvation Army operates on an honor system.

Gray was booked into the Broward County Jail and released on $2,500 bail.